Scarlett Johansson To Star In 'Ghost in the Shell' Movie

Scarlett Johansson To Star In 'Ghost in the Shell' Movie

If Scarlett Johansson hasn’t solidified her spot as one of the go-to female action stars before, this news should make it official. Johansson has officially signed on to star in the adaptation of Ghost in the Shell, the popular cyberpunk anime and manga series about a counter-cyberterrorist organization in a future where cybernetic brains are a reality. The series focuses on Motoko, the leader of an elite squad known as Public Security Section 9 who is given cybernetic enhancements after a childhood accident. Her enhancements give her superhuman strength and genius-level intellect and she is a skilled detective and hacker. Johansson was reportedly offered the role back in October when Margot Robbie dropped out of negotiations to take on the role of “Harley Quinn” in next year’s Suicide Squad for Warner Bros. Johansson proved she could carry a film after last year’s Lucy, earned an impressive $444 million worldwide off a budget of just $40 million. She also has become an important part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe having played a major role in last year’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier. She will next been seen reprising her role as “Black Widow” in this summer’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. No word yet on when we can expect to see Ghost in the Shell on the big screen, but it is reportedly being considered a priority for the studio, especially for Dreamworks principal Steven Spielberg who is a longtime fan of the original Japanese series. Snow White and the Huntsmen director Rupert Sanders is set to direct.